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TODAY'S WORD FOR TODAY

Keep on praying

‘Never stop praying.’
1 Thessalonians 5:17 CEV

The UCB Word for Today - 30 July 2018

Have you become discouraged and stopped praying about the problem? If so, the word for you today is: ‘Keep on praying.’

God may not answer in the way you think He should, or within the time frame you think He should, but when you pray according to His Word, He has promised to answer: ‘No good thing will He withhold from those who walk uprightly’ (Psalm 84:11 NKJV).

When the children of Israel went to battle against a vastly superior army of Amalekites, Moses selected the Mountain of Prayer over the Valley of Battle and the Israelites won (see Exodus 17:8-13). When Abraham learned about the impending destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah, he ‘remained standing before the LORD’ (Genesis 18:22 NIV 2011 Edition) rather than rushing out to warn the cities.

When advisors informed Nehemiah that Jerusalem was in ruins, what did he do? Before he laid one stone in the foundation, he built a foundation of prayer under the whole project (see Nehemiah 1:4).

Paul’s letters contain more requests for prayer than they do appeals for money or comfort. And what about Jesus?

He rose up early to pray (see Mark 1:35). He dismissed people to pray (see Matthew 14:23).

He climbed a mountain to pray (see Luke 9:28). Before going to the cross, He prayed all night (see Luke 22:39-46).

Every word He spoke and every work He performed was saturated in prayer. And if He needed to do that, you do too!

Bottom line: you can accomplish great things after you’ve prayed, but nothing great until you’ve prayed. So the word for you today is: keep on praying.

Job 14-16, 1 Corinthians 1

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TODAY'S WORD FOR TODAY

The steps to success

‘He will make certain each step you take is sure.’
Psalm 37:23 CEV

The UCB Word for Today - 31 July 2018

To succeed in life, you need these four things:

1) Morals. What are you willing to compromise to get where you’re trying to go?

You can’t get there any old way you like; you must have boundaries. Yes, we’ve all broken the rules at some time or other, but thank God we had rules to break.

We were able to realign ourselves because somebody had pitched a tent on where ‘right’ is. Today people don’t seem to know or care much about that.

2) Methods. A goal without a plan is like a road to nowhere. First the goal, then the plan, then the process.

Adapting this simple three-step formula helps you understand that you won’t just leap into success. There are methods you must employ and stay with!

3) Means. When God gives you the ‘vision’, He also gives you the ‘provision’. When that doesn’t happen, either the timing is not right or what you want differs from what He has in mind for you.

God’s provision can come as an idea that hits you suddenly, or a thought that takes root and grows over time. And His provision involves help from other people, so walk in love wherever you go.

4) Management. Jesus said, ‘To whom much is given, of him shall much be required’ (Luke 12:48 AMPC). Some people act like ‘it’s over’ when God gives it to them. No, it’s just beginning.

And guess who your biggest management challenge will be? You! That’s why the psalmist wrote, ‘If you do what the LORD wants, he will make certain each step you take is sure.’

Job 17-18, 1 Corinthians 2

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TODAY'S WORD FOR TODAY

Put God first in all things

‘Seek first the kingdom of God.’
Matthew 6:33 NKJV

The UCB Word for Today - 01 Aug 2018

Until the sixteenth century, scientists believed the earth was the centre of the universe and the sun revolved around it. Then an astronomer called Copernicus came along and argued that the sun didn’t revolve around the earth, the earth revolved around the sun.

In so doing, he revolutionised the scientific world forever. And when it comes to discipleship, Jesus did the same thing: ‘Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.’

At its core, sinfulness is selfishness. It’s enthroning yourself – your desires, your needs, your plans – above all else. You may still seek God, but you don’t seek Him ‘first’.

Instead of trying to fulfil His purposes, you try to get Him to fulfil yours. Who’s following who?

Instead of following Jesus, you’re trying to get Him to follow you. It doesn’t work that way. ‘Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me.

For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it”’ (Matthew 16:24-25 NKJV). Note the words ‘loses his life for My sake’.

There’s a lot of talk today about ‘finding yourself’. The way to find yourself – is to seek God.

D.L. Moody said, ‘The world has yet to see what God will do with and for and through and in and by the man or woman who is fully and wholly consecrated to Him.’ If you’re willing to surrender yourself to God, there’s no telling what He will do with you.

Job 20-21, 1 Corinthians 3

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TODAY'S WORD FOR TODAY

Discipleship means dying to self

‘If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.’
Luke 9:23 NIV

The UCB Word for Today - 02 Aug 2018

In ad 44, King Herod ordered James the Greater to be thrust through with the sword. He was the first of the apostles to be martyred.

Luke was hanged from an olive tree in Greece. Doubting Thomas was burned alive in India.

Philip was crucified, and preached from the cross with his dying breaths. Matthew was stabbed in the back in Ethiopia.

Bartholomew was flogged to death in Armenia. James the Just was thrown off the south-east pinnacle of the temple in Jerusalem, then clubbed to death by a mob.

Simon the Zealot was crucified by the governor of Syria in ad 74. Judas Thaddaeus was beaten to death with sticks in Mesopotamia.

Matthias, who replaced Judas Iscariot, was stoned to death and beheaded. Peter was crucified upside down at his own request.

When John the Beloved survived being put in a cauldron of boiling water, the Emperor Diocletian exiled him to the island of Patmos. Now you will probably not be called to die physically for Christ, but to be His disciple you must die to yourself.

Jesus said, ‘If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will save it’ (vv. 23-24 NIV 1984 Edition).

If you want to find yourself, you must be willing to lose yourself in the cause of Christ. If you want to come alive in the fullest sense, you must be willing to die to all forms of self-centeredness and live for Christ.

Job 22-24, 1 Corinthians 4

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TODAY'S WORD FOR TODAY

God’s timing, location, and purpose for your life

‘And has determined their preappointed times and the boundaries of their dwellings, so that they should seek the Lord.’
Acts 17:26-27 NKJV

The UCB Word for Today - 03 Aug 2018

Let’s look at three phrases in this Scripture:
1) ‘And has determined their preappointed times.’ Your parents may not have wanted you, but God did.

He scheduled the moment of your birth, has a purpose for your life, and you are constantly on His mind. If that sounds too good to be true, read on: ‘You saw me before I was born.

Every day of my life was recorded in your book. Every moment was laid out before a single day had passed. How precious are your thoughts about me, O God’ (Psalm 139:16-17 NLT).

And that’s a foundation to build your self-worth on!

2) ‘And the boundaries of their dwellings.’ God’s will for you requires being in the right place; that’s why He sets ‘boundaries’.

Sometimes He will say, ‘Don’t go there, I want you over here,’ or ‘Don’t stay here, I want you over there.’ Because someone else goes somewhere and succeeds, doesn’t mean you will.

‘The Lord directs the steps of the godly. He delights in every detail of their lives’ (Psalm 37:23 NLT). Include God in every detail of your life, for where He guides, He provides.

3) ‘So that they should seek the Lord.’ Every act of God in your life is designed to increase your dependence on Him. Every assignment He gives you will require His participation in order to succeed.

With all his great talents, Paul acknowledged, ‘Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think of anything as being from ourselves, but our sufficiency is from God’ (2 Corinthians 3:5 NKJV).

Job 25-27, 1 Corinthians 5

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TODAY'S WORD FOR TODAY

To serve others, you must first see them

‘And fixing his eyes on him…Peter said, “Look at us.”’
Acts 3:4 NKJV

The UCB Word for Today - 04 Aug 2018

The Bible says: ‘A certain man lame from his mother’s womb was carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple which is called Beautiful, to ask alms from those who entered the temple; who, seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple, asked for alms. And fixing his eyes on him…Peter said, “Look at us.”

So he gave them his attention, expecting to receive something from them. Then Peter said, “Silver and gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk.”

And he took him by the right hand and lifted him up, and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength. So he, leaping up, stood and walked and entered the temple with them – walking, leaping, and praising God’ (vv. 2-8 NKJV).

This miracle begins with the words: ‘And fixing his eyes on him…Peter said, “Look at us.”’ And it continues with the words: ‘He took him by the right hand and lifted him up.’

In certain Zulu areas of South Africa, people greet each other with a phrase that means ‘I see you’. Could this be God’s strategy for human hurt?

First, kind eyes meet desperate ones. Next, strong hands help weak ones.

Then, the miracle of God. We do our small part, He does the big part, and life at the Beautiful gate begins to be just that – ‘beautiful’.

To serve others you must first see them, and to lift them you must first love them because you know Jesus does.

Job 28-29, 1 Corinthians 6

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TODAY'S WORD FOR TODAY

How to overcome fear (1)

‘I…praise You, for I am…wonderfully made.’
Psalm 139:14 NKJV

The UCB Word for Today - 05 Aug 2018

The story’s told of a man who had a morbid fear of thunder, so he went to see a psychiatrist. ‘You have a condition called brontophobia,’ the doctor said.

‘It’s silly to be afraid of thunder at your age. Just think of it as a drum roll in the symphony of life.’

‘What if that doesn’t work?’ the man asked. The psychiatrist replied, ‘Then do what I do.

When you hear thunder, stuff cotton wool in your ears, crawl under the bed, and sing “Mary Had a Little Lamb” at the top of your lungs until the thunder stops.’ Seriously, most fears are based on feelings, not facts.

Try to look beyond your fears and uncover the expectations that lie beneath them. For example, if you were raised in poverty you may be afraid to be generous.

If you were abandoned you may be afraid to trust anyone, or you may cling to people and try to control them. If you were abused you may fear emotional and physical intimacy.

If you were constantly criticised you may be afraid that God won’t forgive you. If you don’t feel beautiful or intelligent, or you’re not from a high-class family, you may be afraid to mix with people or talk to them in case they look down on you.

American humorist James Thurber wrote, ‘All men should strive to learn before they die, what they are running from, and to, and why.’ David not only pinpointed the source of his fears, but the source of his self-worth and security: ‘I…praise You, for I am…wonderfully made; marvellous are Your works.’

When you know you have God’s approval, your fears begin to die.

Luke 14:25-35, Psalm 79-80

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TODAY'S WORD FOR TODAY

How to overcome fear (2)

‘His compassions fail not. They are new every morning.’
Lamentations 3:22-23 KJV

The UCB Word for Today - 06 Aug 2018

Cardinal J.H. Newman said, ‘Fear not that thy life shall come to an end, but that it shall never have a beginning.’ If you let fear take over your life, you’ll never fully live.

The truth is that many of our fears are totally unfounded. Haven’t you found that to be so?

Studies show that 95 per cent of what we fear is baseless, and the rest are things we must learn to live with. Perhaps the best approach is to adopt the attitude of the poet Gertrude Stein, who said, ‘Considering how dangerous everything is, nothing is really frightening.’

Humanly speaking, there are no guarantees in life. We look to many things to protect us: insurance policies, burglar alarms, travellers’ cheques, aspirin, umbrellas, GPS systems, and airbags.

But the truth is that life is dangerous, damaging to your health, and will eventually kill you. So you might as well live to the fullest.

Shakespeare said, ‘He is not worthy of the honeycomb who shuns the hive because the bees have stings.’ Don’t let fear keep you from taking small steps in your development.

You never know where they may lead. There are two things that are ever-present with us in life: fear and faith.

And every day you live, you choose one or the other. Jeremiah chose faith.

He wrote: ‘Through the Lord’s mercies we are not consumed, because His compassions fail not. They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness.

“The Lord is my portion…therefore I hope in Him!” The Lord is good to those who wait for Him, to the soul who seeks Him’ (vv. 22-25 NKJV).

Job 30-31, 1 Corinthians 7:1-19

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TODAY'S WORD FOR TODAY

How to overcome fear (3)

‘We shall reap if we do not lose heart.’
Galatians 6:9 NKJV

The UCB Word for Today - 07 Aug 2018

Don’t allow what you can’t do to interfere with what you can do. Boxing manager Cus D’Amato said, ‘The hero and the coward both feel the same fear, but the hero uses his fear and projects it onto his opponent, while the coward runs.

It’s the same fear; it’s what you do with it that matters.’ Most negative emotions can be converted into something positive to help us get further in life.

Are you afraid of poverty? Convert it into a work ethic.

Are you afraid of greediness? Convert it into generosity.

Are you afraid of rejection? Convert it into the ability to connect with people.

Are you afraid of insignificance? Convert it to the service of others.

As economist Roger Babson remarked, ‘If things go wrong, don’t go with them.’ Instead, seek a new way to do it.

You can turn your life around by taking the thing that once created fear, and using that energy to do something worthwhile. There are many things in life you can’t control, and there’s no good reason to worry about those things.

Writer Harold Stephens said, ‘There’s a great difference between worry and concern. A worried person sees a problem; a concerned person solves a problem.’

How can you become a problem-solver? By focusing on the things you can control.

And the first one is your attitude. Remember, what happens to you isn’t nearly as important as what happens in you.

The second is your calendar. You may not be able to control today’s circumstances, but you can do your best to plan the time you have.

Most of us fear the future because we don’t prepare for it.

Job 32-33, 1 Corinthians 7:20-40

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TODAY'S WORD FOR TODAY

How to overcome fear (4)

‘Don’t worry about tomorrow.’
Matthew 6:34 NLT

The UCB Word for Today - 08 Aug 2018

Yesterday and tomorrow both clamour for our attention. Yesterday wants us to second-guess our decisions and worry if we did the right thing.

That’s wasted energy. As President Harry Truman said, ‘If you’ve done the best you can – if you’ve done what you have to do – there’s no use worrying about it because nothing can change it.’

And tomorrow can also cause you to miss opportunities. Let’s face it, most people arrive at a different destination in life than what they expected – some better, some worse, but all different.

So focusing on the destination isn’t necessarily a good idea. Besides, tomorrow may come, or it may not.

There are no guarantees. Jesus said, ‘Don’t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries.

Today’s trouble is enough for today.’ Jesus was talking to people who were worried about having the basic necessities in life, like food and clothes. And He said to them, ‘Don’t worry about these things…your heavenly Father already knows all your needs’ (v. 31-32 NLT).

The only place you really have any power – is in the present. Do what you can in the here and now despite your fear, and you’ll have the satisfaction of knowing you’re doing everything within your power to reach your potential.

If you project too far into the future, you’ll suffer from the ‘what ifs?’ and your fears will run wild.

American author Mark Twain quipped, ‘I’ve been through some horrible things in my life – a few of which actually happened!’ Give your past and your future to God and live your life one day at a time, trusting Him.

That’s how you overcome fear.

Job 34-35, 1 Corinthians 8